Program

10:00 – 11:00

Registration and welcome coffee
Hotel „Crowne Plaza”, Warsaw

11:00 – 11:15

Opening

• Prof. Arkadiusz Mężyk, Chairman, Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), Rector, Silesian University of Technology
• Waldemar Siwiński, President, „Perspektywy” Education Foundation
• Prof. Michał Kleiber, Chairman of the Polish UNESCO Committee, Chairman of the IntVP Project Council

11:15 – 11:30

Official Guest

• Wojciech Murdzek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Science, Government Plenipotentiary for the reform of research institutes

11:30 – 13.00

PLENARY SESSION I

International academic landscape – a place for Polish universities

Chair:

• Prof. Marek Pawełczyk, chairman, Science Policy Committee, Vice-Rector, Silesian University of Technology

Speakers:

• Prof. Marek Kwiek, Director, Center for Public Policy Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan: – Global super league – why it pays to be among the top 1000 research universities in the world
• Waldemar Siwiński, President, „Perspektywy” Education Foundation, Vice President, IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence: – Prestige at hand – the International Visibility Project (IntVP) gives hope.
• Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer, Times Higher Education: – Polish universities in the THE rankings [online]

Discussion

13:00 – 14:00

lunch

14:00 – 15:00

PLENARY SESSION II (in English)

Post-pandemic higher education landscape – as others see it

Moderator:

• Prof. Grzegorz Mazurek, Rector, Kozminski University, Warsaw (Poland)

On the panel:

• Prof. Lauritz Holm-Nielsen – Chairman of the international experts IDUB, f. Rector, Aarhus University (Denmark): – Post-pandemic landscape – what has changed, what will remain of it?
• Prof. Mirko Degli Esposti – Vice-Rector, University of Bologna (Italy): – The exprerience of COVID-19 as seen from the perspective of the oldest university in Europe.
• Gero Federkeil, Managing Director of U-Multirank, Centre for Higher Education (Germany): – Tailored approach needed to catch-up learning post-COVID in Europe

Comments:

• Alex Usher, President, Higher Education Strategy Associates (Canada)

 Discussion

15:00 – 15:50

PLENARY SESSION III (in English)

International rankings – methodologies without secrets (part 1)

The rankings create attractive opportunities for universities to position themselves internationally, to identify the desired partners for cooperation and to monitor implemented reforms. This requires recognizing the advantages and weaknesses of individual ranking methodologies. During the session, the main international rankings (QS World University Rankings and US News Best Global Universities Ranking) will be presented “from the inside” by their authors, with particular emphasis on the position of Polish universities.

Chair:

Justyna Kopanska  Leader, Accreditation and International Ranking Section, Lodz University of Technology

Speakers:

• Andrew MacFarlane, Rankings Manager, QS Intelligence Unit, QS Quacquarelli Symonds (United Kingdom): QS World University Rankings development [online]
• Robert Morse, Chief Data Strategist for US News & World Report (USA):– Polish Universities in the US News Best Global Universities Rankings – their chances and opportunities to advance [online]

Discussion

15:50 – 16:00

Coffee break

16:00 – 17:15

SESSION IV (PANEL DISCUSSION)

The European Universities Initiative – How does it changes the landscape of the European Space for Higher Education and Science?

It has been two years since the European Commission selected the first 17 university consortia to shape pioneering solutions for truly cross-border European university campuses. During these two years, the initiative, has primarily focused on creating innovative educational solutions, expanded its research dimension. It also has been strengthened by 24 consortia selected in the second edition of the competition. Among 280 European universities participating in the project, there are 11 Polish universities. Representatives of several of these universities will discuss the benefits these universities have already gained by joining the 2017 President Emmanuel Macron initiative. They will also discuss problems arising in implementation, and how they plan to further development and integration, and finally – what support from national and European authorities are needed to accelerate the creation of the real Universities of the Future.

Moderator: 

• Prof. Stanisław Kistryn, plenipotentiary of the Rector of the Jagiellonian University for cooperation within Una Europa, former Vice-Rector for research and structural funds

Speakers:

• Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector, University of Gdansk (SEA-EU European University of the Seas)
• Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska, Rector Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan (EPICUR)
• Prof. Izabella Pisarek, Vice-Rector, University of Opole (FORTHEM)
• Dr. Joanna Osiejewicz, plenipotentiary of the Rector of University of Warsaw for international cooperation (4EU+)

Comments:

• Dr. Anna Budzanowska, Chairwoman of the Council for the Plan for Employment and Development, Ministry of Regional Development and Planning

17:15 – 17:30

coffee break

17:30 – 18:30

SESSION V – PANNEL DISCUSSION

The role of international accreditation in the strategic management of Polish universities

In the “Foreign accreditations” program, under Measure 3.3 “Internationalization of Polish higher education” of the POWER program, Polish universities applied for over 200 foreign accreditations. According to the declared opinions of the chancellors of accredited universities, the intention is not only to obtain the certificate itself, but to translate the assumptions of accreditation and certification criteria into a specific process of dynamic change management at universities. The aim of the session will be to present decision-making solutions in the field of foreign accreditation implemented in leading Polish universities. Presented will be examples of programs and institutional accreditation and their implementation to improve university management processes in the areas of science, education and the environment

Chair: 

• Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik, Rector, Lodz University of Technology

Speakers:

• Prof. Jarosław Górniak Vice-Rector for Development, Jagiellonian University
• Prof. Andrzej Kaleta, Rector, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business
• Prof. Marcin Moniuszko, Vice-Rector, Medical University in Bialystok (tbc)

Discussion

18:30

Closing of the first day of the Conference

18:30 – 19:30

Networking

19:30 – 22:00

Conference Dinner – Gala “ELSEVIER Research Impact Leaders Awards”
Venue: “Crowne Plaza” hotel

09:30 – 10:00

Morning coffee

10:00 – 10:20

Key-note speech of the second day

• Alex Usher, President, Higher Education Strategy Associates: – Global trends in higher education – expert’s view

10:20 – 11:30

PLENARY SESSION VI (in English)

International rankings – methodologies without secrets (Part 2)

The rankings create attractive opportunities for universities to position themselves internationally, to identify the desired partners for cooperation and to monitor implemented reforms. This requires recognizing the advantages and weaknesses of individual ranking methodologies. During the session, recognized international rankings (Shanghai Ranking and U-Multirank) will be presented “from the inside” by their authors, with particular emphasis on the presence of Polish universities in them.

Chair:

• Justyna Kopanska, Leader, Accreditation and International Ranking Section, Lodz University of Technology

Speakers:

• Lu Wang, Ranking Manager, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy (China): – Shanghai Rankings – New developments in Shanghai rankings [online]
• Gero Federkeil, U-Multirank Coordinator, Centre of Higher Education “CHE” (Germany): U-Multirank – Strategic positioning of universities
  
• Mirko Degli Esposti, Vice Rector, University of Bologna, How Italian universities are building their position in the world rankings.

Discussion

11:30 – 12:00

Coffee break

12:00 – 12:50

PLENARY SESSION VII

Evaluation of scientific research in Poland 2020 – theory and practice

Chair:

• Dr. Zygmunt Krasiński, Strategic Advisor, NCBR

Speakers:

• Prof. Błażej Skoczeń, chairman of the Science Evaluation Committee, professor of the Cracow University of Technology: – “Roadmap” for the evaluation of science in Poland – six months before the start (tbc)
• Prof. Teofil Jesionowski, Rector, Poznan University of Technology: – Evaluation from the perspective of the university
• Marek Michajłowicz, deputy director of the Information Processing Center – National Research Institute: – Scientific Achievement Evaluation System

12:50 – 13:05

Presentation by Conference partner

• Sebastian Kawałko, Asseco Data System

13:05 – 13:20

Presentation of the European Ranking of Engineering Programs – EngiRank

• Dr. Paweł Poszytek, Director General, FRSE
• Waldemar Siwiński, President, “Perspektywy” Education Foundation

13:20 – 14:10

PLENARY SESSION VIII

Managing the area of ranking competences at universities – “good practices”, problems, recommendations

Academic rankings have become a permanent element of the higher education landscape, but they are not always accompanied by organizational solutions and management procedures that ensure their proper place in the hierarchy of university activities. During the session, university experts directly involved in managing the ranking area will present solutions that have proved successful at universities participating in the “International Visibility Project”. This will make it easier for the Conference participants to work out effective ways to manage ranking issues at their HEIs.

Chair:

• Dr. Wojciech Marchwica, coordinator of the University Ranking Audit as part of “IntVP”; researcher, lecturer at the Jagiellonian University

Speakers:

• Iryna Poniatowska, Ranking Manager, University of Warsaw
• Prof. Łukasz Bogucki, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, University of Lodz
• Prof. Arkadiusz Wójs, Rector, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology

14:10 – 14:30

Closing session

Rankings versus challenges faced by science and higher education in Poland

• Prof. Michal Zasada, Vice-President, Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), Rector, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW
• Waldemar Siwiński, President, “Perspektywy” Education Foundation

14:20 – 15:00

Farewell sandwich lunch